When Pantone announced Cloud Dancer as the Colour of the Year for 2026, the reaction across creative hairdressing was mixed. Quiet, soft, almost imperceptible at first glance. But for hairdressers, subtlety is rarely simple, we all know this clean and pure colour takes a lot of technical skill and knowledge to achieve. Cloud Dancer invites us to slow down, and to look closer. Suzie McGill, Artistic Director at Rainbow Rooms International says “This is a perfect choice for blondes who prefer a lighter, creamier, slightly ashy hue and don’t like their blonde to be too warm or golden toned.”
Translating Cloud Dancer into a hair tone shifts the focus away from obvious statements and towards precision, balance and finish. Tracey Ann Smith, Creative Director at Mood says “When achieving this shade on clients, I would use MOOD Level 7 Bleach to pre lighten the hair to a clean base then tone using MOOD Demi Doubles for the perfect ice white.
Cloud Dancer aligns with a growing desire for calm confidence. We’re seeing clients gravitate towards hair that feels considered rather than contrived, luxurious rather than loud. This colour speaks to elevated minimalism: Seung Ki Baek, Creative Colour Expert at Rush says “Cloud Dancer gives us colourists a blank canvas to experiment with minimalism, partnering different variations of depth, dimension, and tones to create our own interpretation of this colour trend for clients in the salon.
As hairdressers, Cloud Dancer challenges us to refine our craft. It asks for cleaner sections, smarter formulations and a deeper understanding of tone, light and finish. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t always shout, sometimes it whispers..
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